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Toluca host Santos Laguna at home in Mexico Liga MX on Monday 21 September 2026, and the predicted lineups here tell two different rotation stories. Toluca’s projection is built from six recent matches, while Santos Laguna’s is drawn from just four, and that gap in sample size shows up in how settled each XI looks once you get past the regulars. Neither side has an official team sheet out yet, so what follows is our best read on who starts, not a confirmed line-up.
Predicted Toluca Line-up
Toluca are projected in a 4-2-3-1, the shape Antonio Mohamed prefers as coach, and the group behind it looks largely settled, with 8 of the projected XI starting their last match. Andres Pereira has started all six matches used for this projection, and Franco Romero matches that record in midfield, making both about as close to certainties as this side offers. Further forward there is more churn among the attacking players, but the back four and central engine room give the lineup its shape.
Toluca predicted XI: Hugo Gonzalez; Andres Pereira, Jesús Gallardo, Bruno Méndez, Everardo Lopez; Franco Romero, Nicolás Castro, Jesús Angulo, Hélio Júnio Nunes de Castro, Alexis Vega; Federico Viñas
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 6 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Hugo Gonzalez | 4/6 | 1/3 |
| D | 6 | Andres Pereira | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| D | 20 | Jesús Gallardo | 5/6 | 3/3 |
| D | 4 | Bruno Méndez | 4/6 | 2/3 |
| D | 25 | Everardo Lopez | 4/6 | 2/3 |
| M | 5 | Franco Romero | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| M | 8 | Nicolás Castro | 5/6 | 3/3 |
| M | 10 | Jesús Angulo | 4/6 | 3/3 |
| M | 11 | Hélio Júnio Nunes de Castro | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| M | 9 | Alexis Vega | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| F | 16 | Federico Viñas | 5/6 | 3/3 |
Predicted Santos Laguna Line-up
Santos Laguna line up in the same 4-2-3-1 shape favoured by coach Renato Paiva, and this expected XI is also largely settled, with 8 of the projected XI starting their last match. Carlos Acevedo has started every one of the four matches used for this projection and looks the clearest lock in the side, while Jonathan Geovanni Pérez Sánchez has just one start in that span, making him the most rotation-prone name in the projected back four. That split between an ever-present goalkeeper and a fringe defender sums up how thin the sample is for parts of this lineup.
Santos Laguna predicted XI: Carlos Acevedo; Felipe Sánchez, Efrain Orona, Franco Pardo, Jonathan Geovanni Pérez Sánchez; Mauricio Cuevas, Diego González, Francisco Villalba, Aldo Lopez, Salvador Mariscal; Ezequiel Bullaude
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 4 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Carlos Acevedo | 4/4 | 3/3 |
| D | 25 | Felipe Sánchez | 4/4 | 3/3 |
| D | 14 | Efrain Orona | 3/4 | 3/3 |
| D | 18 | Franco Pardo | 3/4 | 2/3 |
| D | 28 | Jonathan Geovanni Pérez Sánchez | 1/4 | 1/3 |
| M | 3 | Mauricio Cuevas | 4/4 | 3/3 |
| M | 7 | Diego González | 4/4 | 3/3 |
| M | 21 | Francisco Villalba | 3/4 | 2/3 |
| M | 5 | Aldo Lopez | 3/4 | 2/3 |
| M | 8 | Salvador Mariscal | 2/4 | 1/3 |
| F | 10 | Ezequiel Bullaude | 4/4 | 3/3 |
Team News: Who Is Out
Marcel Ruíz and Edgar López are out injured for Toluca, which thins both the midfield and the forward line at once. Of the players on the bench, Brian Garcia has the most starts in the matches used here, which puts him in the best position to step into either of those areas if Antonio Mohamed needs cover.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marcel Ruíz | M | injured | Jumpers knee |
| Edgar López | F | injured | Jumpers knee |
Lucas Di Yorio is out injured for Santos Laguna, leaving Renato Paiva with fewer options up front. Kevin Palacios has the strongest recent starting record among the substitutes, making him the likeliest option to be recalled into the attack.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucas Di Yorio | F | injured | Leg Injury |
| 3glrw7hj3xdkqdy | injured | Jumpers knee |
How We Predict These XIs
Each predicted lineup here is built from the most recent line-ups for that club: six matches for Toluca, four for Santos Laguna. Within that window, more recent matches are weighted more heavily than older ones, and any player confirmed injured or suspended is removed from selection entirely. This is a projection based on patterns, not an announcement, and it will be updated once the official team news for this match is confirmed.
Read also: Toluca vs Santos Laguna Prediction: 21.09.2026 Liga MX Apertura
Read also: Toluca vs Santos Laguna Head-to-Head: Record, Stats & Form as of 20 Sep 2026
FAQ
Who is predicted to start in goal for Toluca vs Santos Laguna?
Hugo Gonzalez is projected in goal for Toluca, while Carlos Acevedo, who has started all four matches used in this projection, is expected for Santos Laguna.
What formation are both teams expected to line up in?
Both sides are projected to use a 4-2-3-1, matching the preferred shape of Toluca coach Antonio Mohamed and Santos Laguna coach Renato Paiva respectively.
Who is unavailable for Toluca and Santos Laguna?
Toluca are without Marcel Ruíz and Edgar López through injury, while Santos Laguna are missing Lucas Di Yorio, also through injury.
When do Toluca and Santos Laguna kick off?
The match kicks off on Monday 21 September 2026 in Mexico Liga MX.